Method of forming sheet-glass.



r E. DANNER.

METHOD OF FORMING SHEET GLASS. I APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. I916- 1,261,366,, V L Patented Apr. 2,1918;

6 SHEETS-SHEET lv INVEN'T'UE E. DANNER. METHOD OF FORMING SHEET GLASS. AP PLYICATION man MAY s. 1916. 1 2611 366 Patented Apr. 2, 1918 e SHEETS-SHEET 2.

\ iii 0 0 a 1 E\ INVENTUH @Mmw E BANNER. METHOD OF FORMING SHEET GLASS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. I916.

Paiented Apr. 2, 1918-? 6 SHEETS-SHEET 3 Fig. 4.

E. BANNER.

METHOD OF FORMING SHEET GLASS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. I916.

Patented Apr. 2 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4- "ill hmieiiinil' J E. BANNER.

METHOD OF FORMING SHEET GLASS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 19I6.

1,261,366., Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5- A \\\\7 'I)IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIIIIIIIIlI/lai v INT/ENTER.

L fi%@0m E. DANNER.

METHOD OF FORMING SHEET GLASS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1916- 1 261 366 Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6- n QM Tammi EDWARD BANNER,

013 TOLEDO, OHIO.

METHOD OF FORMING SHEET-GLASS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2, 11918.

Application filed May 3, 1916. Serial No. 95,070.

To all wkom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD DANNER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Method of Forming Sheet-Glass; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to the glass working art and particularly to the manufacture of sheet glass, and has for its object the proslab adjusting means. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 1s a sectional.

vision of an improved method for eontlnuously formi'n molten glass 1n sheet form 1n a rap1d, e cient and economlcal manner and without the use of pressing or sizing rolls.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and while, in its broader aspect, it is capable of being practised by numerous apparatus, a few only of such apparatus are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of apparatus for practising my invention, with a part ofthe furnace broken away. Fig. 2 is a front and elevation thereof, with at art broken away- Fig. 3 is a section on the ine 33 in Fig. 2, with glass being drawn in sheet form therefrom. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4.4 in Fig. 3, with a part broken away. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the apparatus illustrating the view of a plortion of the apparatus illustrating a slig tly modified form of the slab.

Fig. 8 is a front end elevation of a different.

form of apparatus for practising the invention. Fig. 9 is a section thereof on the line 9-9 in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a section on the line 1010 in Fig. 9, and Fig. 11 is a partial sectional view. of the apparatus with a different form of drawing slab from that illustrated in Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive.

The practising of my invention in its broad aspect, comtemplates distributing molten glass evenly on a slab which is disposed in a heated hamber, and drawing the glass'in sheet form off the slab to stretch it to the desired thickness.- For the practical to 6, 1' designates a furnace containing molten glass 2, which flows from the furnace over a trough 3 into a practically closed chamber 4, that is heated by flames from a plurality of burners 5, if gas is employed as a fuel, which burners are arranged in suitable positions within said chamber. The trough 3 terminates within the chamber 4: and the flow of molten glass from its discharge end is regulated by a gate 6, which, for such urpose, is suitably mounted for vertical a justment in the chamber 4 with respect to the trough.

The molten glass is intended to flow in a comparatively thin broad stream from the outer end of the trough3 down onto the upper surface of a slab 7, which is disposed in subjacent relation to the discharge end of the trough and rearwardly inclined to permit the glass to flow down the same in sheet form. The glass as it flows down the slab 7 is partially cooled from the molten state in which it flows from the trough 3 to give the glass sufficient consistency to enable it to be continuously drawn off in sheet form from the lower discharge end of the slab. Any suitable means not shown may be provided for imparting a continuous drawing movement to the glass sheet A, the speed of drawing being regulated to suit the thickness-of the glass sheet required and the free- '7 adjacent to its side edges and are adjustable to determine the width of the glass sheet, and to serve as a guide to prevent the glass from'spreading while'flowing down the slab.

'ness, adjustable gates are In order that thetemperature within the,

portion of the chamber 4 in which the slab 7 is disposed may be regulated to suit the conditions of drawing, which conditions vary for sheets of glass of different thickrovided above and below the discharge en portion of the slab 7 and may be adjusted inward and outward to Vary the size of the opening through which the slab 7 projectsand also to expose a greater or less portion of the slab to the outside atmosphere or to a temperature less than that of the chamber 4. The upper gate is designated 8 and is hingedly connected, as at 9, to a vertically movable plate 10 forming a portion of the front of the chamber 4 and also has rack-bar-and-pinion connection 11 with a shaft 12 that is carried by the plate 10 through the medium of bracket arms 13, thus adapting a turning of the shaft 12 to effect an inward or outward swingin of the gate 8 with respect to the slab 7. The lower gate 14 has rackbar-and-pinion connection 15 with. a shaft 16 mounted in the lower frame 17 of the apparatus, whereby a turning of said shaft will eflect-a substantially vertical or lengthwise movement of the gate 14. The upper end of the gate 14 has a link 18. projecting from each end thereof within the chamber 4 below the slab 7 and a rack bar and pinion .to the gate 14 and the several rods have chain and'sprocket connection 23 with each other, as best shown in Fig.- 2. It is evident A that a turning of the rods 21 will effect a vertical movement thereof and cause a raising or lowering of the outer or forward end ofthe slab 7, and will increase or decrease the opening between the slab 7 and the gate 14, this tilting of the slab and regulation of opening being desirable to meet the conditions and temperature of the glass being worked.

In Fig. 7 the slab on which the glass flows from the trough 3 is designated 24 and has the surface thereof over which the glass flows vertically disposed to permit the downward drawing of the glass sheet therefrom in a vertical plane. In this case the upper portion of the surface of the slab. on I which the glass flows is rearwardly offset from the vertical ortion of such surface and stands in position for the molten glass 2, as it flowsfromthe trough 3, to fall thereon, the glass then being distributed in sheet form over the surface of the slab and'flowing downward therefrom. The glass sheet is drawn from the lower end of the slab 24, the speed of drawing being so regulated with respect to the speed'of flow of the glass required if the slab was inclined, as otherwise the glass would flow too freely down the vertical slab 24.

In the form of apparatus illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 for practising the invention the slab is vertically disposed and'the I molten glass is caused to flow down the same in a regulated stream which entirely surrounds or encompasses the slab. In this apparatus the trough 3 in which the molten glass flows from the furnace l'terminates at its outer end in a pot or tank 25, that is disposed within a heating chamber 26, which is heated, in the present instance, by flames from a plurality of gas burners 27. The pot 25. is elongated transversely of the trou h 3 to suit the width of the glass sheets to, e drawn and is provided at its bottom with an elongated opening 28, which extends substantially the length of the pot 25. A'slab 29 of corresponding shape in cross-section to the opening 28 projects down through the openin and into a heating chamber v3O, which is formed immediately below the bottom of the pct 25 by a wall 31.

The 'slab 29 is carried by hollow stems or and the top of the heating'chamber 26, being provided above said top with sprocketwheels 33,-which are threaded on thestems and rest at the lower ends of their hubs on a cross-beam 34 at, the top of the furnace. The sprocket wheels 33 are connected by a sprocket-chain 35, and one'also has chain and sprocket connection 36with an adjusting shaft 37, whereby a turning of said tubes 32,'which projectup through the pot shaft will effect a uniform turning of the sprocket wheels 33 and a vertical adjusting of the slab 29. The head portion 29, of

the slab'29 has its side walls outwardly and upwardly inclined whereby a raisin or lowering of said head within the out et opening 28 of the pot effects a variation in the size of such opening to regulate the flow of molten glass from the pot. 1

The lower end of the chamber 30 is open .to permit the flames from a burner 38 to pass upward therein from below the same and around the glass that is flowing down the slab 29. The flames and gases within the chamber 30 find an exit from the upper end thereof through a plurality of openings 39 in its wall. It is thus evident that the flame from the burner 38, or the heat gen as to thickness by the drawing action. If

the lower end of the slab 29 is broad or terminates with the side terminal spaced, as shown, and air a little above atmospheric pressure is supplied to the interior of the drawn glass through the slab 29, the glass will be drawn in transversely elongated hollow form, as shown at B, with-the opposing side walls thereof parallel and connected by short end portions. In such case the short curved end portions of the drawn glass are severed from the side walls in any suitable manner, which forms no part of the present invention and will therefore not be described, thus severing the drawn glass into two separate sheets of uniform thickness and quality.

If the lower end of the slab 29 is made V-shape in cross-section, as shown at 29 (Fig. 11), the glass which flows down the slab at the opposite sides thereof will merge at the lower end of the slab into a single sheet C, which is drawn to proper size after leaving the slab.

It is evident in the use of each of the apparatus shown and described that the molten glass is caused to flow in a molten state down a heated slab disposed in a heated chamber, the glass being distributed over the slab and flowing down and from the same in sheet form, either single or multiple,

- the flowing of the glass from the slab being augmented by mechanical means which causes a stretching out and thinning or sizing of the sheet after leaving the slab. It

will be understood that the thickness of the drawn sheet is dependent not only on the speed of drawing of the sheet from the slab,

but also on the quantity of flow of molten glass from the trough 3 or pot 25-, as the case may be, down the slab, and on the temperature maintained in the chamber within which the slab is disposed, it being evident that the lower the temperature within the slab chamber the more quickly will the glass harden and set. As the glass sheet is drawn from the slab and becomes hardened it is severed into sections by any suitable means, such severlng means not being lllustrated herein, as it forms no part of the present invention. Such severing, however, should take place at the outer side of the drawing means so that the drawn glass sheet will be continuously maintained between the slab and the drawing means.

By the use of my process the use of the sizing rolls heretofore commonly employed is obviated, thereby preventing or overcoming the rough surfaces of glass sheets occasioned by the rolling process. A further and very important feature of my process over those heretofore employed for making sheet glass is the increased speed with which the glass can be drawn and the uniformity in thickness of the product. 7

I wish it understood that the forms of apparatus herein described and shown for practising my invention are made merely for the purpose of illustration and not to restrict the scope of the invention as defined in the claims, and that the process is not limited to use in connection with any particular apparatus.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

1. The method of forming sheet glass, consisting in. permitting molten glass to flow down a slab in the presence of heat, and drawing the glass from the slab.

2. The method of forming sheet glass, consisting in permitting molten glass to flow by gravity down a member disposed in a heated atmosphere and having a flat surface, and drawing the glass from the lower end of said member.

3, The method of forming sheet glass, consisting in permitting molten glass to flow down a heated slab in the presence of heat, and continuously drawing the glass from the lower end of the slab.

4-: The method of forming sheet glass,

.consistingin permitting molten glass to flow consisting in flowing glass in a molten state down a heated slab and stretching it therefrom to predetermined thickness.

7. The method of forming sheet glass, consisting in flowing glass in a molten state down a heated slab and in a heated atmosphere to flatten and retard the cooling thereof,.and applying a stretching pull to theglass after leaving the slab to size it.

8. The method ,of forming sheet glass, consisting'in permitting molten glass to flow in a regulatedstream down a slab in the presence of heat, and drawing the glass from the slab.

9. The method offorming sheet glass,

consisting in permitting molten glass to flow by gravityin a regulated stream down a slab in the presence of heat, and drawing the glass from the lower end of said slab to stretch it to predetermined thickness.

' 10. The method of forming sheet glass, consisting in permitting molten glass to flow in a regulated stream down a heated slab in the presence of heat, and continuously drawing the glass from the lower end of the slab to stretch it to predetermined thickness.

11. The method of forming sheet glass, consisting in supplying glass in evenly distributed form to the surface of a slab at the rear of its discharge end and in the presence of heat, the glass flowing down the slab by gravity and being drawn from its discharge end to stretch the glass to predetermined size.

' 12. The method of forming sheet glass, consisting inpermitting molten glass to How down a slab over the surface thereof toward its discharge end, and constantly drawing the glass therefrom at apredetermined speed to stretch it to the desired thickness, said stretching taking place from the time the glass leaves the slab until it is in a set condition.

13. The method of formin sheet glass, consisting in permitting mo ten glass to continuously fiow in a regulated stream down a heated slab in the presence of heat, and constantly drawing the glass from the discharge end of the slab at a redetermined speed to stretch it to the desired thickness, said stretching continuing from the time the glass leaves the slab until it is in a set condition.

14. The method of forming sheet glass, consisting in causing molten glass to be continuously and evenly distributed over the surface of a slab above its discharge end, to flow down the same by gravity, and to be constantly drawn from the discharge end thereof at a predetermined speed to stretch it to the desired thickness, said stretching taking place from the time the glass leaves the slab until it is in a set condition, and before reachin the drawing means.

15. The met 0d of forming sheet glass, consisting in permitting molten glass to flow down a heat surrounded slab, and drawing the glass from the slab, the heat being less at the portion of the slab from which the glass is drawn than at the point of flow of the glass thereon.

16. The method of forming sheet glass, consisting in providing a slab within a heated chamber and projecting the discharge end thereof into a temperature which is less than that of the chamber, and causing molten glass to flow onto the slab within the chamber and to be drawn from the discharged end thereof.

17. The method of forming sheet glass, consisting in flowing glass in a molten state over an inclined heated slab and stretching it from the lower end thereof in sheet form to predetermined thickness before the sheet I reaches the stretching means.

18. The method of forming sheet glass, consisting in permitting molten glass to flow down an inclined slab in the presence of a surrounding heat, and drawing the glass from the slab, the heat being less at within a heated chamber and projecting the outer end thereof into a temperature which is less than that of the chamber and causing molten glass to flow onto the slab within the chamber and to be drawn from the discharge end of the slab the drawing stress biing applied to the sheet beyond the point 0 set.

20. The method of forming sheet glass, consisting in permitting molten glass to flow in a regulated stream onto and down a heated slab in the presence of a surrounding heat and drawing the glass from the slab, the'heat diminishing from the portion of the slab on which the glass first flows to the portion thereof from which the glass is drawn, the drawing stress being applied beyond the point of set of the sheet.

21. The method of-forming sheet glass, consisting in permitting molten glass to flow down a heated slab in the presence of heat, drawing it therefrom to predetermined thickness and regulating the width of flow of the glass down the slab.

22, The method of forming sheet glass, consisting in permitting molten glass to flow by gravity from a trough down onto an inclined slab in a broad regulated stream, the glass then flowing down the slab and being drawn from its lower end at a predetermined speed to stretch it to the desired thickness, the width of the glass column as it flows down onto theslab being substantially the same as the width of the sheet drawn from the slab, and the drawing stress being applied beyond the point of set of the sheet.

23. The method of formin sheet glass, consisting in permitting mo ten glass to continuously flow in a regulated stream down onto a slab, the flow down the slab being by gravity, and drawing the glass from the slab at a speed which is greater than the speed of flow of the glass onto the slab whereby the glass is stretched to predetermined thickness before reaching the drawin means.

24. he method of forming sheet glass, consisting in causing moltenglass to continuously flow onto, down and from a slab in sheet form and subjecting the sheet, as

it fiows from the slab, to a continuous uni form longitudinal stretching stress applied thereto beyond the point where the glass it flows from the slab, to a continuous unibecomes set. form longitudinal stretching stress applied 25. The method of forming sheet glass, thereto beyond the point Where the glass 10 consisting in causing molten glass to conbecomes set. 5 tinuously flow onto, down and from a slab In testimony whereof, I have hereunto in sheet form and in the presence of a sur signed my name to this specification.

rounding heat and subjecting the sheet, as EDWARD DAN N ER. 

